The Poisonwood Bible

By: Barbara Kingsolver

Narrated by: Dean Robertson

Length: 15 hrs and 34 mins

Publisher's summary

“A powerful new epic... [Kingsolver] has with infinitely steady hands worked the prickly threads of religion, politics, race, sin and redemption into a thing of terrible beauty.” - Los Angeles Times Book Review

The Poisonwood Bible is a story told by the wife and four daughters of Nathan Price, a fierce, evangelical Baptist who takes his family and mission to the Belgian Congo in 1959. They carry with them everything they believe they will need from home, but soon find that all of it - from garden seeds to Scripture - is calamitously transformed on African soil. What follows is a suspenseful epic of one family’s tragic undoing and remarkable reconstruction over the course of three decades in postcolonial Africa.

The novel is set against one of the most dramatic political chronicles of the twentieth century: the Congo's fight for independence from Belgium, the murder of its first elected prime minister, the CIA coup to install his replacement, and the insidious progress of a world economic order that robs the fledgling African nation of its autonomy. Taking its place alongside the classic works of postcolonial literature, this ambitious novel establishes Kingsolver as one of the most thoughtful and daring of modern writers.

©1998 by Barbara Kingsolver. (P)1998 Brilliance Audio, all rights reserved.

Critic reviews

"Haunting...A novel of character, a narrative shaped by keen-eyed women." (New York Times Book Review)

"Beautifully written....Kingsolver's tale of domestic tragedy is more than just a well-told yarn.. Played out against the bloody backdrop of political struggles in Congo that continue to this day, it is also particularly timely." (People)

"The book's sheer enjoyability is given depth by Kingsolver's insight and compassion for Congo, including its people, and their language and sayings." (Boston Globe)

amazing

This is one of the most thought provoking things I've read and are really long time.

Loved this book

This story breaks your heart. Sometimes when we follow our own desires we destroy other people's lives.

Different and well written

If you could sum up The Poisonwood Bible in three words, what would they be?

Well written and informs about the history of the region. Good treatment of the effect of a strict religion upbringing.

A thought provoking read, excellent

Would you listen to The Poisonwood Bible again? Why?

There is so much in this story it deserves at least a second listen if not a third or more. The charters are so completely developed. The story so portrays how sometimes we are well meaning but all wrong. So often we forget there may be system in place and just because we don’t understand or see it does not me it does not exist.

Who was your favorite character and why?

I don't know how I could pick a favorite character. There was so much good to find in the children each in their own way. It is hard for me to like the father in this story but without his mistaken judgments there would not have been a story at all.

Any additional comments?

This book touched me deep inside. While I do not see it as a sad story some may. Over all I felt the message is one of strength in adversity, learning to survive and understand others.

The narrator's accent was perfect!

Loved it. I am a Protestant Christian from the South. Parents we're Peace Corps volunteers.

Brilliant. A must read/listen

I loved it, especially the narrator brought over the story very well. The last 2 chapters were difficult to get through though.

I’ve listened to this three times, a favorite.

If you have lived abroad or want insight or a glimpse of life in primitive Africa. This is a great portrayal of a family with 4 daughters, life in Africa and how it impacted the rest of their life.

A Grateful Receiver

This book was recommended to me by a group of women in my life who encourage courage in all its shapes and sizes. At first I wondered why this is their favorite book, but now I know. Thanks for this beautiful story and the opportunity to think about its many meanings in years to come.

Loved it

A great story and I learned a lot besides. It's a view into a world I didn't know much about. Beautifully written and narrated. It took a little bit for me to get used to all the different narrators but once I did it really enhanced the story telling. Totally recommend.

Great insight into the heart of Africa

I loved this book. It will make you feel things deep for parents, for poverty, for struggle, and for Africa.